Wednesday, March 31, 2010

4 weeks in Canada

We had a great month long visit to Canada and I didn't take enough pictures to prove it but here are a few good ones.

Ava eating breakfast with crazy hair

Ava just being cute in her new outfit

Played at the park and had a 7-11 Slurpee every other day! Even Ava knew what to do when she saw the slurpee machine. She got her own cup and tried to pick up the dumped out left over stuff.

We went swimming with my friend Chantel and her boys. Big thanks to mom and dad for watching Ava so we could go for a nice dinner with no kids.

We went to the library with cousins, Hannah, Lindsay, Tanner, and Katie. They are funny kids; every time you ask Katie how old she is she spells her name. Tanner was about to have his 4th birthday so we had a “Cars” party for him. It was fun for me to make decorations and hopefully make a little boy remember his Auntie Di.

Watched Gager perform his skating routine in Taber. He isn’t fast but he does try hard and always gets up after he falls. He was Elmo in a class of Sesame Street characters.

Some of us drove to Great Falls Montana to meet up with Mom and Dad Miller. We had fun together shopping, eating and talking. The boys didn’t really want to shop as much as we did so they kept Ava busy in the sporting goods store and a kid play place. They did manage to pick up a remote control airplane, which no one knew how to fly. It became the last week project. They waited and waited for the perfect opportunity to get it in the air. I gave Dave an ultimatum, saying if he could get the plane into the air he could buy a $100 plane for himself and if he could land it he could get one of equal value ($300) unfortunately Dave lost track of the plane in a sun glare and it came to a devastating end. He was so upset that he never got the chance to land it, and that he wrecked $300 in a matter of minutes!

We made tutu’s for the little girls, these are fun and so easy. Ava and Addi thought they were true princesses.

The plane rides were not bad, it’s so much better having a paid seat for Ava however Dave and I both agreed when we landed that the 8-9 hour flights are getting old. I wish for the days when I only have to fly 3-5 hours or drive to see family. Even though I was in Canada for 4 weeks the time flew by, I didn't get to see everyone and do everything I wanted, but it was a relaxing, non frustrating vacation. Usually things are so jammed together I don’t get to enjoy much. Being able to fly home and create the small family memories is worth the ticket. I love sitting around the dinning room table and talking while eating BBQ steaks. Giggling as we try to come up with homemade taco seasoning because mom didn’t have any. Walking through hurricane winds to the library because we wanted the kids to have “fresh air.” Watching a new show called “Hoarders Buried Alive” and making personal commitments to never get that bad ourselves. Making a complete mess of the basement while trying to create a few scrapbooking items. Breaking the Taber pool rules and going down the water slide while holding our kids. These are the times I remember not the price of the ticket.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Patriotic and Proud

I love Canada, and I am proud to be called Canadian, but I am also extremely proud of my American husband who serves the USA honorably and helps the fight for freedom through the United States Air Force. I truly have a blessed life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrA4V6YF6SA

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Sunshine and Slurpees

So I’m not even half way through my vacation here in Canada but I have to say that I am having a great time. Alberta definitely brings a feeling of HOME.

Things I love about being back home:
Family members to talk to and make plans with
7-11 Slurpees
Country Radio
Wendy’s Frosties
Wide open skies with almost endless sunshine
Kilometers and Celsius
DQ Blizzards
Craft stores
Evening shopping
Doing the laundry at home and not having to lug it onbase
Turning right at a red light

I have been driving a car since I was 16 years old and you would think that these past 4 months of “English” driving habits would be easily broken but you’re wrong. Every time I get into a parking lot where I have no one to follow I tend to slide over to the left side of the road. I can drive this way until I hear a honk or have a car headed straight for me. I think “wow, I’ll never make that mistake again” and then I do! There is something about parking lots that make me forget everything good and right.

I miss my husband and believe it or not my dog
The way a traffic light turns yellow before green giving you time to put your foot on the gas and not waste so much time.
Hearing/seeing fighter planes, knowing we are protected by brave people serving their countries
Ava had a rotten start on this vacation. She was so good on the plane and transitioned to the new time zone in 3 days but she also had a fever, vomiting, 2 year molars, and normal “new strange place” syndrome. Yesterday was by far her best day with Grandma and Grandpa and her first with no pain medication or crying fits. At the risk of sounding completely stupid I have to say I had no idea kids got 2 year molars and that they could completely shut down a child’s zest for life. I bought a new camera, so hopefully it will take better pictures then our last one and you will see more posted. When 80% of the pictures I take turn out fuzzy I’m not too enthused to share them. I’m excited that I still have 2.5 weeks to hang out here and that Dave will be able to join me soon.